Kai Havertz was Chelsea’s most expensive signing of the summer as the Blues reportedly paid around €80m to Bayer Leverkusen for his services.
Prior to agreeing a deal with the west London club, there were other clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool who showed interest in the 21-year-old.
Last month, the Germany international detailed his reasons for joining the Premier League side amid interest from other European giants.
Sky Deutschland have today published a detailed interview with the attacking midfielder, where he explained Frank Lampard was vital in his decision to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
“He’s very important to me. We all know him as a football player, he is one of the greatest legends here in England – also internationally in world football. Of course, having someone like that as a coach is not a given. I appreciate that very much,” he said.
“As a coach he is very helpful to me, he can teach me an incredible amount. Also, because I play a little in the position that he played. Frank was also very dangerous. That’s why it fits very well and I’m very grateful that he makes me better day by day.”
When further quizzed if Lampard, who kept calling him, was ‘one of the main reasons’ to join Chelsea, Havertz said: “Definitely. Due to Corona, it was not possible to meet in person during that time, it was only possible by phone.
“It was clear to me in advance that the coach would be very important to me. Of course, the most important thing is the club, but there also has to be a good coach. That worked very well for me with Frank from the start. The talks were very good and it didn’t take me long to decide for Chelsea because of him.”
Havertz’s transfer saga generated a lot of interest, at least in Germany, as he was linked with several clubs across the continent. Sky asked the player to provide an insight on his move from Leverkusen to Chelsea.
“It didn’t just start two months before the transfer, but started a whole year before the actual change. Since then, I have dealt about leaving Leverkusen, both with my advisors and with the club,” the player explained.
“We had always communicated very transparently that next year, i.e., in summer 2020, the time had come for me to do something different.
“Then Corona came and it felt like everything was turned upside down. The clubs were no longer willing to spend really big money. It was just not possible for many at that time. Then, as a player, you have conversations with different clubs, with coaches who will contact you.
“There was also an exchange with Leverkusen, three or four conversations a week with my consultants and with my own family. That gets to your head, I can honestly say that. Personally, I tried to take a little pressure off of it and said to myself that I wanted to end the season properly and if something good came out in the end, then I’ll take it.
“Then the talks with Chelsea in the spring became more and more serious. I had various conversations with the coach and those responsible. Everything went very well; the club is a perfect fit for me as a young player. Then everything happened very quickly. I am also very, very grateful to Leverkusen for that.”
